Beech trees.

[Bundle 2]

Sorry....perhaps I was taking that out of context but it seemed reasonable to seek clarification and postulate as to whether this is observable in other tree species....

[Marcus B-T]

Perfectly reasonable.

 

Firstly I am not saying that all epicormic growth on Beech is caused by Ustulina. Secondly it may not be the only species it happens with.

 

So. Beech aren't renowned for thier epicormic growth so it is probably more apparent on Beech.

 

There is probably some kind of physiological change with Ustulina infections in Beech that triggers epicomic growth. This could be indirect and related to the physical nature of the vascular system or could be a circumstantial chemical signal. We already know about the magic tree, so a chemical signal is not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

What evedence is there? Well, we have seen the advocation of heavy reduction of Beech on the basis of well the thing is going over/dying anyway so lets control that and see what happens. The trees with ustulina sprouted loads of epicormic or had epicormic we were unaware of, some even did it in dry years. We also see a great deal of epicormic growth on Beech with Ustulina but again it isn't always obvious at first glance.

[David Humphries]

This was something unknown to me until last year, having not seen it before.

(Really should take more time)

 

Although not directly linked to Ustulina, I have witnessed epicormic growth on Beech.

Mainly on this Gano'd and Merip'd one below, which I worked on last year, plus a fair few of the Ancient Beech Pollards at Burnham Beeches a couple of months back.

 

Did not notice if the ones at BB were affected by Ustulina, but possibly going back in a week or two, so will have a closer look.

 

 

 

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[David oakman]

Thanks guys this is very interesting. The two beech are very near a road so i need to do the right thing. Two points i am thinking about is the first tree has some wounding which has sealed with new wood but something caused it. it may be water has got in old pruning wounds and the core has gone soft and has some type of fungal activity but there are no fruiting bodies. or there is a ditch beside these trees and it is full to the top with water and as we know beech hate water so there may be a root problem.

[Stephen Blair]

took these photos for you today mate, the first is pretty obvious.

blown over years ago and cut off and has grown well, i have known this tree for ten years and it is excellent.

the second i halved 10 years ago. it is about 30 feet high now. the tree was originally covered in ivy so when i left it it was just a stick. the pic isnt good but the tree is about 2 foot across.. look at her now. hope this helps.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Stephen Blair

[David oakman]

Thanks mate, i have an elm tree similar to the beech in pic 1.

[Marcus B-T]

Thought you might like to look at these

 

First picture is a tree the first growing seaon after a good hacking (thats a technical term) the second a different tree two years after a good hacking.

 

Cheers

 

Marcus

[Bundle 2]

" We already know about the magic tree..." quote;

Showing my ignorance but you've lost me here....!

 

" so a chemical signal is not beyond the realms of possibility. "quote;

It certainly isnt if you consider production of nitrogen compounds in the wood infected by pathogens and again, the waterlogged root systems' generation of ethylene...stress seems to have some interesting chemical associations in tree response.....( albeit most often in favor of the pathogens? )

[Marcus B-T]

Sorry, my story of the magic tree was on another site. I have seen some trees with Ustulina that keep their leaves well into the winter I call them the magic trees. There is one at Wimpole but apparently I may have been caught out with this one since it might be a hybrid of Quercus caneriensis that retains leaves in winter so I'm trying to find out more about this tree.

[David Humphries]

Marcus, do you know the management history of the second shot above?

 

Why reduced?

When reduced?

Is it still going?

 

Does the canopy to the right exclude much of the days sunlight?

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